I have a real problem watching people belittle their kids. Sadly, in my line of work I get to deal with the results occasionally, but y'know, it does make me all the more determined to make sure my kids grow up strong and safe.
Not a lot of traffic around here, but I wanted to share this article.
Turns out free play - that is, pretend play with no rules - is really goddamn important to the social development of children. And it's, like, proven scientifically. Read the article if you've got kids. It's kind of long, but it's very readable, and it's good info.
Ok so I have a little one who just turned one recently, and it's been reall stressful between me and his mother. I'm in school right now and don't have a job, and it bothers me alot. How do you deal with not being able to provide for your child financially? What else can you do to be a good parent to the child if the mother doesn't think spending time with them is enough?
I just put my 2-mo down for a nap. The trouble is that Harper has been very restless lately (looking like a growing spurt) and is in dire need for good sleep. So what did I do? Walked to the laundry room and placed her in the bucket of her carseat and turned on the dryer. Nothing keeps her happy and asleep like sleeping on top of the dryer.
My second child could refuse to sleep by any other means except a ride in the car. But it had to be along a stretch of road with streetlights at somewhat regular intervals. I kept a copy of Steely Dan Aja in the car and could drive to the airport and back as the album ends - usually as I enter my subdivision.
What tools/equipment/machinery have you used to put your child or keep your child happily asleep?
...so yeah! ...I joined this community a few weeks ago and have yet to post anything. Here goes:
I am a stay-at-home dad for my eight-month old son, Stuart. My wife works at a Veteran's Hospital, I work in group homes for the developmentally diabled. Right now, I'm a house manager, and my wife, my child and I live in a one bedroom apartment that is attached to the group home. We bought a house three and a half months ago, we're fixing it up (new windows, siding, flooring, new electrical, etc. etc. etc.). So at the moment, I work from 5:30am to 7:30am, stay home with Stuart until my wife gets home, and go back to work from 4pm to 10pm. On weekends or during the week whenever Stuart lets me, I go over to the "new" house to do some sort of project. ...so I'm constantly busy.
...is there any other stay at home dad out there who works nights like this? I mean, I essentially never see my wife, and it's gettin' to be tough. I feel like every time I do have time to spend with her, we fight too much... and by fighting, I don't mean fighting, I mean stuff like this:
her: ...where are the keys?
me: I gave them to you.
her: No you didn't.
me: Yes I did!!
her: Well, I don't have them.
me: You have to have them!
her: Well, go look on the counter in the kitchen for me.
me: (sigh) fine.
her: ...oh, here they are.
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...I'm really just postin' so I feel normal... 'cause I know there's other folks out there dealing with the same stuff.
I would usually post this on my journal, but this is about my wife and I don't want to hurt her feelings. If you want to post a comment go ahead, but the sole reason for this is to get it off my chest because it's been tearing at me all night
Last night, after a long walk to the library, my wife starfish12 and I put the kids to bed. We watched a little Top Chef, relaxed with brains off, and then she went to bed. Meanwhile I went out to the garage to put in some time on my car.
By the way, if you haven't been reading my buildup journal, the_black_ship, now is a great time to start . . .
During my time in the garage, I really worked my ass off. I got dirty, grimy, greasey, oily, even covered in penetrative lubricant. Wrenching, grinding, pulling, breaking free bolts and breaking tools. Cutting, bleeding, pouring sweat. When it was over, I reached for my bottle of pumice soap, and thought of my Grandpa Schalter.
After breakfast my son Arthur, who is just shy of two years, decided to sweep the kitchen floor with the broom. While he was sweeping, he began moving the broom around the floor very vigorously, then looked over at me with a big grin and said very clearly: "hockey! hockey!"
My day has been made. Next up for Arthur: "Go Leafs Go"
